Clasp



Patente-cl Sept. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLASP,

Valle C. Bierk, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 15, 1941, Serial No. 393,550

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a clasp of the type which has a wedge slot adapted for holding cords or ropes.

An object of this invention is to provide such a clasp which is economical in construction and positive in operation.

An embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for holding the cords of a Venetian blind is described below, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fi-g. 1 is a top View;

Fig. 2 is a front view;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing the clasp in position on a support with cords;

Fig. 6 is a View similar toFig. 5 with the cords clasped; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View otherwise similar to Fig. 6.

The clasp is formed from a block I which, as shown, may be semi-cylindrical in form, having a pair of longitudinal bores 2 through which cords 3 extend The block also has a lateral bore 4 to accommodate a screw 5 for fastening the clasp to a support 6. As specifically shown, the block I is of wood, but may be of many other suitable materials.

At the bottom of the block I the bores 4 areV each intersected by a wedge slot 1. The walls of each slot converge at the inner end of the slot, while its center lies along a plane which is at an angle lto the bore 2. As specically shown, the slots converge toward each other. The walls of the slots also converge from the outer surface toward the bore. That is to say, the slots are wedge-shaped with the walls converging aty their innerends, and the walls slope outwardly or away from each other from the bore to the outer surface of the block.

It will be understood that the cord 3 will pass or slide readily through a bore 2, and in the arrangement as shown in the drawing the normal pull on the cord will be upward. So long as the oord is in a vertical position it will readily slip through the bore 2, but if the bottom end of the cord is pulled outwardly as it is in Fig. 7, the cord will wedge in the slot 'I and be held securely against further` displacement. It has been found that the arrangement of the slot at a slight diagonal to the bore gives a desirable result, and that this result is enhanced by aring the slot outwardly.

The clasp as specifically shown is adapted for twin cords. It will be apparent that a block having a single bore to accommodate a single cord will function in the same manner where only one cord is to be used.

It will be apparent that the invention accomplishes its objects. A clasp has been provided which is economical in construction and which will be positive in operation.

Various changes may be made in the details of the construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A clasp for a cord comprising a, block having a longitudinal bore therethrough, and-a wedge slot extending inwardly from one end of the block and from the bore to the outer surface of the block, the median plane of the slot being disposed at an acute angle to the axis of the bore.

2. A clasp for a cord comprising a block having a longitudinal bore therethrough, a wedge slot extending inwardly from one end of the block and from the bore to the outer surface of the block with walls diverging outwardly from the bore to said outer surface, and with the median plane of the slot disposed at an acute angle to the axis of the bore.

3. A clasp for a pair of cords comprising a block y having a pair of parallel longitudinal bores there- 

